Many of you have heard me speak passionately about happiness and self-actualization. A lot of the science of happiness dwells on balance – the balance between the pursuits of various interests: work, faith, friends, and personal passions.
Yesterday, AOL and I jointly made an announcement about my future, and about the balance of my life’s interests. Here is the news release, my email to AOL employees, Jon Miller’s email to AOL employees, and the Washington Post’s coverage of the story. I think that these sources pretty much say everything there is to say.
I am sincere when I state that my goal is to find that right balance between AOl, my sports teams, my film interests, my charitable efforts, my venture capital investing, and my mentoring of young leaders. But, do you know what is sad? Everyone who knows me knows how important family is to me, but in today’s world of press spin, if you mention stepping back from work load to focus on family, people think you got fired from your job. So – I stayed silent on it in our official documents to the press, but for those of you who know me, you know how important family matters are and how much I will look forward to having more quality time with the ones I truly love.
I think you have made a great example for the rest of us in this region that is overly consumed with accomplishments. It’s terrific to see that one can be professionally successful AND want a balance with the personal things in your life.I was in the audience today when you spoke to Leadership Fairfax and was inspired by your four virtues that make self-actualized people. Keep spreading the message! I have the utmost respect for you and your work to help others.
Best of luck Ted. Now maybe we can play golf again.Mark
Ted, balance is something I strive to achieve in life and I admire the balance you’re able to find in your life. Go Caps!
Ted, as a fellow Greek American I have been so proud of your success and want to wish you Good Luck in all your future endeavors. I hope you, as you state, will find the right balance for your charitable efforts and your mentoring of young leaders both of which I have brought to your attention recently and I hope you will consider. In the meantime, I hope you will be able to have more quality time with your family. Good luck to you and your family.
Ted, the true sign of leadership is showing that you know what you want, what’s important to you, and making the hard decisions that will get you there.This is exactly your strength and why you’ve helped make AOL the success it is and also why we all support you in the decision you’ve made…. after all, you still have a *few* items left on your 101 List to take care of.
As someone who does know you and knows how much you cherish your wonderful family, I was able to easily read between the lines of your public message. You are a great friend, a terrific leader and a true inspiration to all those around you. I was the first to sign the Dinosaur that day in the auditorium and have so many good memories of all we hoped to build. We had our share of struggles along the way and many times friends and family took a back seat to our work– though they were always there supporting us in ways too numerous to mention. So, hats off to you, L,Z and E for everything you contributed as well.While AOL is once again charting a new way for itself, one thing that we can all be proud of is that AOL was a catalyst for the enormous cultural change that has taken place over the last 15 or so years. Other services existed before AOL, but AOL was the single service that was able to bring these sweeping changes to the mass markets.You, my dear friend, were instrumental in doing all that. Your friends are all rooting for you in these next chapters.Warmest,Jan***